Having previously worked in banking and finance Chris said it was his calling to become a priest and so trained at Ripon College Cuddesdon before becoming ordained in 1995. He moves to Ryedale from Bromsgrove, near Worcester,

He has been married to his wifeThelma for 30 years and together they have two grown-up sons and a Golden Retriever Alfie.

Chris said: "I started my career in international banking and recruitment, but a calling to the ministry led me on a different path into the Church of England. I was walking to work in London one morning, having said my morning prayers, when I saw a priest walking past the Bank of England opposite. I said to God ‘Seriously, don’t tell me you want me to be a priest?’ and there in the back of my head came a physical jolt with the word ‘yes’, and the rest is history.

"We're looking forward to exploring this part of Yorkshire and discovering new friends and places."

In his spare time Chris enjoys walking, playing golf and reading Scandinavian Noir thrillers.